A Trio of Field-Worthy Blades

by
posted on November 6, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bsheetz2015_fs.jpg

Modern manufacturing and materials, particularly in blade steels and their heat treatment, have led to production knives that offer greater utility and performance, and better value, than ever before. When it comes to cutting tools, the modern outdoorsman has never had it so good.

The three examples shown here, which have proven worthy throughout a variety of camp chores and shooting sports activities, are: Cold Steel’s Recon Scout, a classic fixed-blade Bowie that was recently reintroduced in 01 tool steel; the Kershaw Piston, a full-size, spring-assisted folder with a flipper and dual thumb studs; and the Benchmade 531 Axis, a featherweight folder with dagger DNA and a utilitarian spear-point blade.

Cold Steel’s Recon Scout; Kershaw Piston; Benchmade 531The Recon Scout’s 7½"-long 5/16"-thick blade is weighty enough to chop with yet trim enough that it packs and handles more like a large fighting knife—just right for splitting kindling or constructing a shelter. Its 5"-long Kray-Ex rubberized handle means that it is unlikely to inadvertently leave your hand while in motion, and the ovalized steel guard snaps into the polymer Secure-Ex sheath ($200).

The U.S.-made Piston is a 3½"-bladed folder with 5" scales of machined and textured G10 that do not require separate metal liners, allowing it to weigh a reasonable 4 ozs. Its 11⁄8" wide blade of Sanvik 14C28N and sweeping point make it a great utility knife for everything from spreading peanut butter to cutting cardboard target backers—perhaps not in that order ($115).

Finally, Benchmade’s 531, at only 2.1 ozs. and 4.1" overall (closed), offers a lot of utility while still being nearly compact enough to carry in a front pants pocket. The symmetrical design of its grooved G10 scales combines with a reversible tip-up pocket clip, the proprietary bilateral Axis lock and dual thumb studs to make it attractive to both right- and left-handers. The 531’s modified drop-point blade geometry makes it excellent for finer tasks ($155).

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.